BVI, USVI representatives to meet monthly to further negotiations between territories
In a bid to continue negotiations to reach their shared goals, the British– and neighbouring United States Virgin Islands (USVI) is now set to host monthly meetings through their Inter-Virgin Islands Council’s standing committees.
This follows the just-concluded 8th annual Inter-Virgin Islands Council (IVIC) meeting between the two territories on Tuesday, February 4.
“One of the things coming out of this meeting is there will be no business as usual, but business unusual. This means that our standing committees will meet once a month to ensure that we iron out the areas we have in common and work out the grey areas where there are differences,” stated Premier Andrew Fahie in a government-commissioned media release after the meeting.
He added: “The objective is for the committees to work together so that in the next couple of months, we can come up with solutions ahead of the meeting next year. We have stated now that we want a greater Virgin Islands, and we will work towards that direction.”
Productive
Meanwhile, USVI Governor Albert Bryan, Jr described the meeting as one which was productive after successfully going through a variety of issues that will mutually benefit Virgin Islanders.
“The one thing that is key is the strong familial ties that lie between the British- and US Virgin Islands and our constant commitment to ensure that our people are resilient in the face of our challenges and that we can take advantage of the possibilities and opportunities of a collaborative Greater Virgin Islands,” Governor Bryan stated.
As co-chairs of the IVIC, both Premier Fahie and Governor Bryan have agreed to assign a representative to lead the monthly meeting, which will house the Council’s 12 standing committees.
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Our premier is not a good negotiator. When its all said and done the BVI will be left holding the sh__ty end of the stick
Good negotiator? The only thing the man can negotiate is ordering off of a menu. Sounds like he established a nice monthly meeting at an expensive restaurant for himself and his cronies all at the expense of the tax payers. Probably going to St Thomas on a private jet. Ferry or boat is not good enough.
Meet monthly FOR WHAT? More smoke and mirrors to give the impression that things are happening but little do the Premier know, the people are sitting back quietly paying attention.
smoke is correct. I was visiting on STJ Tues. and it was appalling and embarrassing to see the huge smoke mountain in the sky..and then I had to listen to the residents about PWP. This should be the focus of the meetings.
Hon Fahie leave these people and run the country. You and your 2007 VIP has already given them our yachting Industry by allowing their tourist to sail up free of Immigration control for the day and their industry is growing and ours is becoming stagnant.
Why do you insist on meeting with these people of the different countries the BVI was ahead of all of them now we going backward.
The St.Thomians hardly show up on friendship day certainly not the attendance when they met with Puerto Rico leave these people.
Where is your plan to run the country. These people aint got nothing to give us.
The yachting visitors are leaving their departure tax monies…I hope.
“The one thing that is key is the strong familial ties that lie between the British- and US Virgin Islands and our constant commitment to ensure that our people are resilient in the face of our challenges and that we can take advantage of the possibilities and opportunities of a collaborative Greater Virgin Islands,” Governor Bryan stated.”
This statement brings great joy and hope to many minds and hearts. As, it was being felt that there was a growing disconnect between the USVI and the BVI, despite our centuries old, family, blood and identical race and history connections.
That we were being divided by nationality and regionality by those whose sole existential objective is to keep us divided.
This meeting and its political objectives are greatly favored.
I swear this guy is acting like he has no work to do and this job is a joke, I thought he said he has to fix the territory from how the NDP left it.
What does everyone think about a union; like freedom of movement, between the VI if America allows it? Or it would be major issues?